Drowned man's family thank NSW authorities

The family of a 23-year-old international student who drowned off a Newcastle beach has thanked the local community and NSW authorities for their support.

Search crews spent three days scouring the ocean after Pakistani man Mohsin Khalid was swept into the water on Sunday.

His body was discovered about one kilometre offshore on Wednesday.

"The family have been touched by the outpouring of public sympathy and support, and the many stories from his friends on the positive impact he had made while in Australia," they said in a statement on Friday.

The family thanked the NSW emergency workers, the University of Newcastle, the Pakistan consulate general and the wider community for the support during "this challenging time".

Mr Khalid, from Lahore in Pakistan's northeast, was studying business administration at the university after arriving in Australia in October.

He was "fun-loving" and "an extremely good sportsman" who loved cricket and played for the local Newcastle club.